Motor control mechanism for electric clocks



Jan. 5, 1932. A,I w, FOWLER 1,839,473

MOTOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC CLOCKS Filed NOV. 8, 1929 'gji Q25 P y 3f w /Z /56 l a Patented dan. 5. 1932i stares Anno W. FOWLnn, OF HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS Moron CONTROL Maarn/inistr non ELECTRIC oLOoxs Application filed November 8, 1929. Serial No. 405,833.

This invention relates to motor control mechanism for electric clocks; and an object O-f the invention is to provi de improved equipment for controlling theoperation of the elect tric meter by a device cooperatively associated with the clock springmechanism and operated by the motor to stop the motor and operated by the clock spring mechanism to permit the motor to start.

Another object of the invention is to provide the improved frictional control'device operated. by the motor orfrictionally stopping the motor automatically and as an in` cident tothe completion of the Winding'operation and which is controlled by the clock spring, so as to permit the motor to operate to rewind the spring intermittently.

Various other objects and'advantagesV will appear from the following description, referf ence being made to the accompanying drawings in Which- Y Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a clock mechanism showing the lpresent inf vention embodied therein. Y n Fig. l2 is a lateral side eleva-tion ofthe clock mechanism. l Y

Fig. 3 is a front side elevation ofthe clock. l

4 is an enlarged detail view showing the frictional control device for themotor in position to permit the'motor to operate. F 1g. 5 is a detail view ofthe frictional con- Atrol device in position to prevent operation of the motor.

rlhe hour hand 1 and the minute hand2 of this clock are operated by trains ofgea-ring` actuated by a large gear Wheel 3. Operation of the gear Wheel 3 is controlled by an escapement device 4. The escapement device 4 is associated with and controls a pinion() meshing with a gear Wheelc'atta'ched to a shaft-f7 having rigid thereon a pinion 8 meshing With a gear Wheel Q rigid on a shaft 10 having rigid 'thereon a pinion 11 meshing on Which is a pinion 1"4 meshing'ivith the gear` 3. The minute hand 2 is attached to the shaft 13 and the hour hand 1 1s attached to a sleeve 15 mounted for rotation von andV about the shaft 13. A gear Wheel 16 is rigid i with a gear Wheel 12 rigid Von a shaft 13 rigid With the sleeve 15 and loose with respect to the. shaft 13 and is in mesh with a'pinion 17 rotatively supportedV on a stub 18.` The pinion`17'is rigid with a gear Wheel 19, Which is loose on the stub 18 and Which meshes withv and is rotated by a pinion 2O rigid on the shaft 13. By this familiar type Ofigearing,`the hour hand 1 and the minute hand 2 of the clock are operated differentially in order correctly to indicate the time.

' A spring drum 21 is rigid With the large gear Wheel 3 and has attached thereto one end of a clock spring 22, the opposite end of which is attached to the shaft 23 on Which the large gear Wheel 3 is loosely supported. The spring 22 is an actuator for the time indicating mechanism and is energizedkby the motor driven mechanism. v It is now clear that rotation of the shaft 23 in the proper direction will Wind the spring 22. For, the gear Wheel 3 is prevented from rotating with the shaft 23 by the es'capement device and the gearing therefrom entraining the'escapement device With saidkgear Wheel 3.

The clock is equipped with an electric i motor 24towhich electrical energy is admitted through the electric 'circuit Wires 25 and 26. When the motor 24 is energized and operates, it rotates a shaft 27 having attached thereto a pinion 28 meshing With a gear Wheel 29 attached to a rotary shaft 30. The rotary shaft 30 has attached thereto a pinion 31 meshing With a gear 32 attached to a rotary shaft 33. The rotary shaft 33 has attached thereto a pinion34 meshingkvvith a gear Wheel 35 attached to a rotary'shaft 36. The rotary shaftv 36 and the gear Wheel 35 are rigid vvithl a pinion 37 meshing With Va gear Wheel 38 attached to the shaft 23. [It is now clear that when the/motor 24 operates, the shaft 23 will be rotated ina direction to Wind and to tension the spring 22 and that rotation'of the gear Wheel 3 With the shaft 23 is prevented by the escapementmechanism. It is also clear that the escapement mechanism `controls rotation of the gear verse rotation of the shaft 23,*so that the VWheel 3 by the spring 22 and that the motor. and the gearing therefrom will prevent re power and energy of the spring 22 is utilized i to operate the hands l and 2 of the clock.

It is desirable to prevent the motorY from winding the spring 22 beyond the desired tension and to coordinate the operation of themotor, so that the spring 22 will be wound automatically and as an incident to the oper@ ation of the invention. These desirable results are obtained by the embodiment of the invention shown.

The shaft 36 is a screwv and has screwed thereon a pinion 39, which has a long periphery. This pinion 39 is in constant mesh-with the gear wheel 3so that, as the gear wheel 3 rotates, the pinion 39 is rotated thereby. Since the pinion 39 is screwed on the shaft 36, rotation o-f said pinion 39 by the gear wheel 3 will move the pinion 39 aiong the shaft 36 in onedirection. It is apparent that rotation ofthe shaft 36 by the winding mechanism driven by the motor will move the pinion 39 along the shaft 36 in the opposite direction from which said pinion 39 is movedv by rotation of the gear 3. Thus, when the motor is not operated, the gear wheel3 operates to rotate the pinion 39 and the threads connecting said pinion 39 with the shaft 36 constitute means for moving the pinion 39 in one direction along said shaft 36. And when said shaft 36 is rotated by the motor driven winding gearing, the pinion 39 is held from rotation with said shaft 36 by engagement of said pinion 39 with the gear wheel. 3. In this operation, the threads connecting the pinion 39 with the shaft 36 constitute means for moving the pinion 39 along the shaft 36 in the opposite direction from which said pinion 39 is moved when the gearwheel 3 rotates said pinion 39.- y

' A lever 40 is supported by the shaft 30 for pivotal swinging and lateral oscillating movements.' In order to support said lever 40 for these pivotal swinging and lateral-oscillating movements, said lever 40 is provided with a large hole 4l through which the shaft 30 eX- tends. lThe upper end of the'lever 4() has arms 42 embracing between them the shaft 36.Y rlhe arrangement of the lever 40 with respect to the pinion 39 is Vsuch that said pinion 39 is moved along the shaftV 36 in a direction away 'from saidlever 40 when said pinion 39 is rotated by the gear wheel 3 and whenv the shaft 36 is rotated by the winding gearing, the pinion 39 is moved along said shaft 36in a direction toward and into engaging contact with the bifurcated end of said lever 40. When the pinion .39 is .moved by the winding mechanism operated by the motor, said pinion 39 contacts with and movesthe lever 40p toward i the gear wheel 29.

`The lower end of the lever 40 is rebent to form an arm 43 spaced from the lever 40,'so

Y between the blocks 44 and 45.

block 44, and a similar friction block 45 is attached to the arm 43. The gear wheel 29 is The block 44 is closer to the shaft 30 than the block 45. These blocks 44 and 45 are of such length and arrangement that when the bifurcated end of the lever 40 is moved toward the gear wheel Q9, said blocks will fri-ctionally engage and grip the gear wheel 29 with suiiicient pressure and force to stop rotation of said pinion 39,

and thereby stop the motor. Thus, these parts are coordinated and arranged so that when the spring 22 is wound to the desired eX- tent, the winding mechanism comprising` the motor will be stopped positively automatically'v and as an incident to the completion of the winding operation.

ln operation, the spring is wound with suiiicient tension to operate the hands l and 2 of the clock. Dierential operation of these hands is effected by the trains of gearing described, which tr'ains of gearing are operated bythe gear. wheel 3 under control of the escapement mechanism. Y Operation of the gear wheel 3 causes the threads engaging the pinion 39 with the shaft 36 to move the pinion 39 along the shaft 36 in a direction away from the lever 40. y When thepinion 39 moves away from the lever 40 a distance suiiicient to release frictional engagement of the blocks 44l andi/i5 with the gear wheel 29, there is no restraint preventing operation of the motor. When the restrain preventing operation of thel motor is ended, the motor, which is constantly energized, begins to operate automatically. Operation of the motor through the train of. gearing, comprising the pinion 28, the gear wheel 29, the pinion 31, the gear wheel 32, the pinion 34, the gear wheel 35, the pinion 37, and the gear wheel 38, rotates the shaft 23 and thereby winds the spring 92. This gearing also rotates the shaft 36, thereby moving the pinion 39 along said shaft in a direction and'to an extent to cause the lever 40 to operate the friction blocks 44 and 45 and to'grip in frictional engagement with the gear wheel 29 effectively to stop the motor.

It is 'now clear that this invention obtains all of its intended objects in a highly efficient and satisfactory manner. The construction` arrangement and relationship of the elements comprising the invention may be widely varied without departure from the nature and principle of the invention, and I contemplate such variations as may be found desirable and do not restrict myself nnessentially in any respects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Mechanism of the character described comprising'a rotary gear wheel, a shaft on which said gear wheel is rotatively snp ported, a spring having one end attached to said shaft and the opposite end attached to said gear wheel for rotating said gear wheel while said shaft remains stationary, a motor,l

l O U a rotary threaded shaft, mechanism for rotating said threaded shaft by said motor, mechanism for rotating said first shaft by said threaded shaft to Wind said spring, and a device operated by said threaded shaft yfor stopping operation of said motor. Y

2. Mechanism of the character described comprising a rotary gear Wheel, a shaft on which said gear Wheel is rotatively supported, a spring having one end attached to said shaft and the opposite end attached to said gear Wheel for rotating said gear Wheel While said shaft remains stationary, a motor, a rotary threaded shaft, mechanism for rotating said threaded shaft by said motor, mecha nism for rotating said first shaft by said threaded shaft to Wind said spring, a device operated by said threaded shaft for 'stopping operation of said motor, and means operated by said gear Wheel for screwing said device along said threaded shaft to position toipermit operation of said motor. n

3. Mechanism ofthe ,character described comprising a rotary threaded shaft, a motor, a train of pinions and gear Wheels yfor rotating said threaded shaft from said motor, an element screwed on said threaded shaft, means for holding said element from rotating With said threaded shaft to cause said threaded shaft to move said element along said threaded shaft When said sha-ft is rotated, and a friction device engaging oneof said gear Wheels and arranged to move to position to permit said gear Wheel to rotate and being engaged and operated by said element to obtain frictional engagement with and prevent rotation of said gear Wheel by said motor. Y

4. Mechanismof the characterdescribed comprising an electric motor, a shaft, af gear Wheel mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said gear Wheel by said motor, a threaded shaft, mechanism driven by said gear Wheel for rotating said threaded shaft, a lever supported on saidfirst shaft, friction devices supported by said4 lever forifrictionally engaging said gear Wheel, and a device operated by said threaded shaft for operating Ysaid lever into frictional engagement With said gear Wheel.

5. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear Wheel mounted on said shaft, means forrotating said gear Wheel byy said motor, -a threaded shaft, mechanism driven by said gear Wheel for rotating said threaded shaft, a lever supported on said first shaft, friction devices supportedby said lever for frictionally engaging said gear Wheel, a device operated by'said threaded shaft for operating said lever into frictional engagement With said gear Wheel, and mechanism for moving said device along said threaded shaft to position to permit said lever to release said gear Wheel.

6. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear 7. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear Wheel supported .by said shaft and rotated by said motor, a threaded shaft, mechanism driveneby said gear'wheel for rotating said threaded shaft, a lever mounted on said first shaft,- ineans supported and operated by sai-dlever for engaging and preventingoperation of said gear Wheel and stopping said motor, a device operated by said threadedV shaft for operating said lever to a position tol prevent operation of said gear Wheel, and mechanism for moving said device to position to permit movement of said lever tov position to gear Wheel.

`8. The combination with an electric motor, a gear Wheel rotated by said motor, and

a shaft supporting said gear Wheel of a fric- ,1.

tion device supported by said shaft for engaging and preventing operation of said gear` Wheel by saidmotor and thereby preventing operation of said motor,'and mechanism operated by saidk gear wheel for operating said de! vice to a position to prevent operation of said gear Wheel.

9. The combination with an electric motor, al gearA `Wheeljrotated b y said motor, and a shaft supporting' said gear Wheel, of a friction devicesupported by said shaft for engagingand preventing operation of. said gear Wheel by said motor and thereby preventing-'operation of said'motor, mechanism operated by said Agear Wheel for operating said deviceto a position to prevent operation oit said gear'wheel, and means for moving Vsaid deviceto position to permit operation of said gear4 vvheel.k

.10. Mechanism of thechai'ac'ter described comprising an electric motor, a gear Wheel operative by said motor, a shaft supporting said gear Wheel mechanism driven by said gear Wheel, and a device supported by said shaft, and operated by said mechanism for frictionally gripping and preventing opei'a` tion of saidv rear Wheel Land Vthereby preventing operation of said motor.

Y ll. liechanism of-the character described comprising an electric motor, a gearwheel rotative by' said motor, a shaft supporting saidrgear Wheel an actuator,mechanism op erated by said gear Wheel for energizingsaid actuatoigK-a devicesupported by said shaft for frictionally engaging andpreventing op-` eration of said gear Wheel and thereby preventing operatori of said motor,.and means` aposition to prevent operation of said gear Wheel by said motor, and means operated by said actuator for moving said cevice to posi tionto permit rotation of said gear Wheel by said motor.

13. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear Wheel mounted on said shaft. means for rotating said gear Wheel by said motor, an additional shaft, an actuator supported by said addition al shaft, mechanism operated by said gear Wheel for rotating said additional shaft and thereby energizing said actuator, adevi ce supported by said Afirst shaft for frictionally engaging and prevent-ing operation of said gear Wheel and thereby preventing operation of said motor, and means operated by said mechanism for moving said device to a position to prevent operation of said gear Wheel bysaid motor when said actuator is sufficiently energized. f

14. Mechanism of the character describe comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a. gearV Wheel suported by said shaft, rmeans for rotating said gear Wheel by said motor, a threaded shaft, mechanism driven by said gear Wheel for rotating saidv threaded shaft, a lever supported by said first shaft, friction devices supported by said lever for frictionally engaging said gear Wheel, and a device operated by said threaded shaft for moving said klever into frictional engagement with said gear Wheel.

15.'Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear Wheel supported by said shaft, means 'for rotating said gear Wheel by said motor, an additienal shaftQan actuator mounted on said additional shaft, mechanism operated by said gear Wheel for energizing said actuator, a device supported by -said first shaft for frictionally engaging and preventing operation of said gear Wheel and thereby prevent; ing operation of said motor, means operated by said mechanism for moving said device to a position to prevent operation of said gear wheel by said motor, and means operated byV said actuator for moving said first named means to position'to permit said device to re-V lease said gear Wheel. Y

16. Mechanism of the character'described comprising an electric motor, a gear Wheel rotative by said motor, a shaft, an actuator mounted on said shaft, a second shaft, means for rot-ating said second shaft by said gear Wheel, means for rotating said first shaft by said second shaft, and a device supported Vby said second shaft for frictionally engaging and preventing operation of said gear Wheel and thereby preventing operation of said mo- Y tor.

17. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a gear wheel rotative by said motor, a shaft, an actuator 18. Mechanism of the character described i comprising an electric motor, a shaft, a gear Wheel mounted on said shaft, a second shaft, a gear Wheel mounted on said second shaft, means for rotating said first gear Wheel by said motor, a threaded shaft spaced from said first and second shafts, mechanism driven by said firstY gearrvvheel for rotating said threaded shaft, a lever, friction means supported bysaid lever for frictionally engaging said first Gear Wheel, and a device operated by 'said threaded shaft for operating said lever to position to engage said friction means With said firstV gear wheel.

19. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, av gear Wheel, a shaft supporting saidgear Wheel, mechanism for rotating said gear Wheel by said motor, a threaded shaft, mechanism driven'by said gear Wheel for rotating said threaded shaft, a'third shaft, a gear Wheel on said third shaft, a device mounted on and operated by said threaded shaft and engaging said second' gear Wheel, and afriction element operated by said device to engage said first gear Wheel.

20. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electric motor, a gear Wheel operative by said motor, a shaft, a second shaft, mechanism driven by said gear Wheel for rotating said second shaft, a threaded shaft driven by said mechanism, 'friction means for engaging said first gear Wheel, and a device mounted on and operated by said threaded shaft and engaging said second gear Wheel for operating said friction means into frictionai engagement with saidl first gear Wheel to prevent operation ofsaid mo- 

